Alice Ginnell

Alice Ginnell (born Mary Alice King; 24 September 1882 – 2 August 1967) was a Republican activist and member of both Cumann na mBan and Sinn Féin. She was the first woman Election Agent in Ireland or Great Britain.

Biography

Ginnell was born Mary Alice King to James and Georgina King in Kilbride House, Gaybrook near Mullingar, County Westmeath in 1882. She got her education from the Loreto Convent boarding school in Navan, County Meath. Ginnell was the second wife of Laurence Ginnell and married him on 30 January 1902 in Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath. She was active in politics and friends with Constance Markievicz and Maud Gonne.

In 1917 Ginnell returned to Ireland where she organized the Cumann na mBan branches in Meath, Westmeath and Rathmines in Dublin. In April that year a selection of women from the leading republican organisations founded the League of Women Delegates to demand women be represented amongst the Sinn Féin executive. Ginnell was secretary of the organisation and in October was nominated to the Sinn Féin executive along with Kathleen Clarke, Áine Ceannt, Jennie Wyse Power, Kathleen Lynn, and Helena Molony. In 1918 Ginnell was sent by Sinn Féin to Westmeath to help with running candidates in that constituency. She found such a lack of organisation that she ended up becoming the Election Agent. Ginnell was the first woman to hold this position. Ginnell herself only ran for election once, in the 1920 Pembroke Urban District Council election, and was unsuccessful.